“Ferrari Design:” Style in the house of the prancing horse

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12 Jul 2011 | 2,769 views | No Comment

"Ferrari Design: The Definitive Study," by Glen Smale, $69.95, 272 pages, Haynes Publishing and distributed by Motorbooks/Quayside Distribution Services.
By Don Hammonds
Are you big on style? And even bigger on Ferraris?
You'lll want to check out a new book that chronicles the design of one of the world's most glamourous automotive brands--Ferrari.
Yes, we know there are tons of books on these gorgeous automobiles, but this is a book with a difference. In eafh of its chapters, you're introduced toa different model or generation of models, and there's plenty of information about the stylists themselves, a description of the various influences of the designs, a perspective on where each particular model fit into the overall Ferrari panorama and interesting stories and legends about the models as well.
There's also a look at various trivia associated with Ferrari, such as the story behind the Pininfarina badge which graces some of the more historic and striking models. That badge has a "F" in the middle of it, and you'll find an interesting explanation on page 87 of the bnook.
The photography in the book--200 color illustrations and 75 black and white shots--is simply breathtaking, done from unusual angles, and lare and lavish enough to let the reader drink in even the smallest details in the styling of the cars.
Especially fun is a little spread on models designed as part of a a competition to shape future Ferrari design, that were displayed the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
There are assembly line shots, concept car shots, design sketches, race car shots and lots of other elements that make the book a welcomne one. And if you're wondering what Mr. Smale thought of some of the designs, you won't be in suspense for long. He referred to 1971's 365 GTC/4 as an "effort to make it look aggressive and aesthetically pleasing at the same time--but failing on both counts in the author's opinion." There's also plenty of perspectives offered by respected design expert and both current and past Ferrari designers that make the book provocative.
The book, given its comprehensive nature, the beauty of its illustrations and the high quality pages come at a price tag that may seem a bit high, but it's well worth it, and it deserves a place on the shelf of automotive enthusiasts everywhere.